Method and device for splitting yarn



United States Patent [72] Inventors Saburo Ida;

Yoshimitsu Tsutsui; Shigeo Tsutsui,

Nagoya-shi, Japan [21] Appl. No 703,304

[22] Filed Feb. 6, 1968 [45] Patented Nov. 24, 1970 [73] AssigneeMitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Tokyo, Japan [3 2] Priority Feb. 9,1967 [3 3 Japan [54] METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SPLITTING YARN 15 Claims, 8Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 225/3; 28/1 83/175: 225/97 [51] Int. Cl B26f 3/00 [50] FieldofSearch 83/l8,175: 19/.62, .64; 57/31; 225/3, 97, 93; 28/1(F) [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,247,529 7/1941 Taylor et alPrimary Examiner-James M. Meister Attorney McGlew and Toren ABSTRACT: Anapparatus for splitting fibrous yarn from film and yarn material such aspolypropylene, polyester polyethylene and the like, includes two spacedsets of feed rollers each defining a nip between which the yarn is fedin the form of a tape. The forward roller set is driven at a fasterspeed than the rear set in order to provide a tensioning of the yarn. Afeature of the construction is that two sets of splitting rollers arearranged for selective orientation with the tape. In one embodiment,after one splitting roller is positioned in a direction toward the tape,it may be engaged tightly by the tape by deflecting a guide roller in adirection to press the tape into engagement with the splitting roller.In the one embodiment, the splitting rollers are carried at respectiveends of a rotatable arm which may be rotated to position a selected oneof the splitting rollers into association with the tape which is beingprocessed while the other one may be positioned in a standby position inreadiness for use, if desired. In the other embodiment, the splittingrollers are located in spaced relationship and the yarn is deflected toone or both of the rollers as desired.

The apparatus also includes a supporting bar which may be movedoutwardly under the tape to pick up any tape which has become cutaway sothat it may be replaced manually into engagement with the guide rollersand feeding rollers.

Patented Nov. 24, 1970 3,542,267

Sheet of5 FIG. I

INVENTOR. 5 R60 R0 :09

mmmrsu Tswsu:

sauce: rsurs u! BYWMJW Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet W R 0 T /W E w MOUSW N T W Un mm 3 0" Vs V! m0 Patented Nov. 24, 1910 3,542,267

Sheet of 5 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. 5980 R 0 I09 IOSHIHITSU TSUTSUI r $HI6E0 TSUTSU! MMM WPatented Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet 4 or s INVENTOR$ snBuRo IDR vosm mrs uTSUTSUI smeeo Tsu'rsul Wm M W Patented I Nov. 24, 1970 7 3,542,267

Sheet 5 of 5 INVEN'IORS SABURO IDA YOSH/M/TSU ZS'UT'SU/ y SH/GEO TSUYSU/A TTORNE Y3 in sets forming nips between which the METHOD AND DEVICE FORSPLIT-TING YARN SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION selected cutter intoassociation with the yarn at a given time.

FIG. is a front side perspective view of the apparatus indicated in FIG.3;

The present invention relates to apparatus which may be used in a methodof making fibrous yarns from film and yarn material such aspolypropylene, polyester, polyethylene and the like. In conventionalapparatus of this kind, a splitting step is taken after a drafting step,in which it is possible to operate on a large number of tapesconcurrently. For such operation, it is necessary to employ splittingcutters comparable to the number of tapes or yarns which are to beprocessed. The disadvantage in the known apparatus is that the tape oryarn which is treated becomes creased and deformed and even its physicalproperties are changed. In addition, the apparatus is not capable ofcontinued operation in the event of a breakdown of one of thecuttingparts or ofa severance of the tape.

The present invention is an improvement over the prior art, particularlyin respect to the provision of an inexpensive device for splitting theyarn under tension and which employs a plurality of cutters which may beselectively oriented in an operating position. The advantage of thearrangement is that whenever a cutter is broken or encounters unduewearing condition, it may be rapidly replaced by immediately shiftinganother cutter into position. In addition, the apparatus is arranged sothat the operation may be carried out even when one of the tapes becomesbroken or severed by simply stopping the cutting momentarily while thesevered tape is entrained on a movable holding bar which is movedoutwardly below the tapes to'hold the tape temporarily until it can betrained backwardly over the guide rollers. i

Accordingly it is an object ofthe invention to provide an improveddevice and method for splitting fibrous yarn of synthetic material whichincludes a plurality of cutters which may be selectively positioned inan operative position for splitting the yarn.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for splittingyarns which includes spaced feeding rollers arranged yarn is fed, oneroller set being fed at a faster speed than the otherin order to tensionthe yarn; and wherein the yarn may be directed by a deflecting guider'oller over a splitting roller which is positioned so that it isoriented against the yarn to force it to engage over the splittingroller.

A further object of the invention is to provide a splitting device whichis simple in design, rugged in construction and economical tomanufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in theclairns annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention.its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated and described preferredembodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I is a top plan view of a splitting machine constructed inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view of the apparatusindicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front side" perspective view of the apparatus indicated inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of theapparatus;

nip between which a plurality forward set of rollers'42 and 16 arerotated at FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of an illustrative exampleof a splitting drum or. roller with the film or yarn extending instraight engagement therewith; Fig. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6showing films or yarn extending over the splitting drum with anincreased angle of engagement; and

FIG. 8 indicates one arrangement of the splitting projcc-' tions set onthe peripheral surface of a splitting drum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to thedrawings in particular, the invention embodied therein in FIGS. l-3comprises a yarn splitting device which includes a rear set of feedrollers 40 and 11 forming a of laterally spaced tapes of yarn material10 is fed. In addition, a forward set of feed rollers 42 and 16 forms anip between which the tapes are directed. The a faster speed than therear set 11 and 40 so that the tape between the roller sets ismaintained under tension. The tapes 10 which are fed in the direction ofthe arrow from the right to the left indicated in the drawings ismaintained under a tension which can be controlled by running theforward set of rollers 42 and 16 at a speed which is 23 percent greaterthan the speed of the rear set 11 and 40.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the tapes 10 may bepositioned in operating engagement with one or all of a plurality ofcutting disks or splitting rollers or drums, in this instance twoseparate splitting rollers I2 and 12 The rollers 12 and 12 are mountedon respective shafts 44 and 46 which are carried at respective ends of arotatable arm 14 which is affixed to a shaft 48 for rotation therewith.The shaft 48 carries a gear wheel 50 which may be selectively rotatedthrough a worm 52by means of a positioning motor B (FIG. 3). Inaddition, shafts 44 and 46 are driven by variable speed driving motor Athrough a gear train C and clutches D and E.

During operation, the arm 14 is advantageously located along a verticalaxis Y-Y in order to position a selected one of the cutters 12, or 12 ina position facing the tape 10. With the arm 14 thus positioned,deflecting means in the form of a guide roller 13 is shifted in anupward direction, as indicated in FIG. 3, to engage the tapes 10 frombelow and to cause them to engage around a portion of the periphery ofthe operating splitting roller 12,. For this purpose the guide roller 13can freely rotate around its axis and is mounted on a shaft or spindle54 which is carried on a lever G which has an end which is pivotallysupported on a fixed frame (not shown) and an intermediate portion whichis pivoted to a rod 56 which may be reciprocated under the control of afluid cylinder H in order to cause the desired shifting of the roller 13towards or away from the tapes 10. The possible positions of the guideroller 13 are indicated at 13' and 13" in FIG. 2. The rollers l 2 and 12may be oriented in any one of the dotted line posi tions shown byshifting the supporting arm 14 so that it alines with any one of theaxes X-X, W-W, Y-Y, or 2-2. The center lines of the tensioned tapebetween the forward roller set 16 and 42 and the rear roller set 11 and40 is designated by 10,, 10 and 10 The guide roller 13 may be positionedby shifting the-rod 56 in order to effect a suitable angle of tapecontact with respect to the cutter.

The splitting rollers 12, and 12, may be of a type indicated havingsplittingprojections 2 on its peripheral surface driven by suitablemeans 7 such as an electric motor.

As shown, the drum 1 is in contact with at least one film or yarn 3, forexample, of polypropylene and of 1000 denier, and is driven by anappropriate means to rotate at a peripheral speed either equal to ormore or less differing from the travelingspeed of the film or yarn 3.Each of the projections 2 is of a needle or the like form straight orcurved in an involute and preferably is set to slope with its pointedend extending in the direction of the axis of rotation of the drum. Theprojections 2 are arranged on the'peripheral surface of the splittingdrum I along predetermined lines of lead 4 which proceed in thedirection of the axis of rotation of the drum as the latter is driven torotate. The spacing pitch p between two alined projections 2 arranged onadjacent lines oflead 4 is determined in accordance with the desiredsplitting pattern or split configuration.

Film or yarn 3, which runs in contact with the splitting drum 1, may bearranged to extend in a straight line, as shown in FIG, 6, or to extendaround the drum surface at an increased angle ofengagernent, as shown inFIG. 7. In the case of FIG. 6 the arrangement is made to allow thedistance between the axis of the splitting drum I and the film or yarn 3to be freely varied as required between a minimum corresponding to theradius of a drum I and the maximum workable radial distance of theprojections 2 plus the drum radius. In the case of FIG. 7, the distancebetween the drum axis and film or yarn extending around the drum surfaceis fixed but the angle of engagement therebetween is variable, as willbe apparent from the following description.

Provided in front of and behind the splitting drum 1 are respective setsof nipping rolls 5 and 6 which serve to drive the film or yarn 3 under apredetermined tension, to maintain the film or yarn being split in acontact position relative to the projections 2, and to drive the film oryarn 3 along a predetermined path. In FIG. 8, the arrow f indicates thedirection of travel of film or yarn 3.

According to a feature of the invention, the splitting operation can berestarted after the tape is trained over the guide rollers withoutwinding the tape or yarn directly around the splitting cutter in theevent that the tape or yarn becomes broken or entangled with thesplitting cutter. For this purpose, a yarn or tape engaging bar 15 isdisposed below the splitting cutter I2 during the operation. The bar ispositioned in a position below the tape 10 by actuating a fluidcylinder] with a suitable fluid to cause the outward movement of the barfrom the solid line position indicated in FIG. 3 to the dotted lineposition at which it will be below the tape in a position to support anytape which breaks off. The bar is movable in its cylinder J atdirections at right angles to the movement of the tape it) but it neednot rotate about its own axis.

After the tape is operated on by a splitting roller 12, or I2 whicheveris positioned in the operating position, it is moved over the guideroller 13 and passed through the forward feed rollers 42 and 16. Theguide roller I3 is initially adjusted by actuating the cylinder H andthereafter it is held at a given winding angle by a winding angleadjusting apparatus 1. The apparatus I includes a fixed plate member 70and a threaded adjusting screw 72 which bears against an angle portion74 of the lever G.

During the startup ofthe device, the arm 14 is held in a position X-X,as indicated in FIG. 2, and the guide roller 13 is positioned at theposition 13'. Thereafter, the tape or yarn I0 which discharges from theroller group I1 and 40 is disposed so as to engage directly with the niproller group 16 and 42 without contacting the splitting cutter 12, or 12In this condition. the tape or yarn I0 is, as indicated in FIG. I,uniformly arranged in parallel with respect to each other so that theymay be fed away from the apparatus out through the nip of the rollers l6and 42 in parallel relationship after they are split.

Thereafter, the arm 14 is rotated to the position indicated by the lineY-Y and held in this position during the splitting operation. The guideroller 13 is then swing so as to provide a suitable contact angle of thetape I0 which respect to the splitting cutter 12 and when this is done,it is held in this position. The tapes are then fed under tension by theforward and rear sets of the feed rollers 42-16 and 4.0l1, respectively,so that the splitting operation is carried out.

While breakage of the tape and the entanglement of the cutters l2, and12 may occur, it is possible to reguide the broken or entangled tapeover the guide roller 13 and between the nip of the forward rollers i6and 42 so that the apparatus can be restarted. When this occurs, the armI4 may be rotated through so that the tape which is not broken isengaged by the cutter 12 It can be seen from the drawings that therotational speed of each cutter varies slightly in accordance with thecontact angle of the tape or yarn with respect to the cutter, butvariations can be minimized by the correct location of the guide rollerand the position of the tape in respect to each individual cutter. Inaddition, the mechanism may be operated so that the tape is contactedfirst by the cutter l2, and then by the cutter I2 for a suitable periodoftime so that any variation in contact angle or speed may be suitablecompensated.

Any tape which becomes entangled or is cut off, will fall down on theengaging bar I5 and may be manually returned to the guide roller and theforward feeding rollers 16 and 432 so that the splitting operation canbe restarted.

Because one of the cutting rollers I2 or i2; is always in an idleposition, it is possible to work on this idle roller, for example, toreplace its cutting knives, even when the other roller is operating.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, similar parts aresimilarly designated but with primes added. In this embodiment, twosplitting rollers are provided which are respectively mounted on fixedspaced journals which are located between the forward feeding rollers l6and 4-2 and the rear feeding rollers II and 40. In this embodiment, twosets of guide rollers I3 and I3 are arranged adjacent the respectiveoutboard'sides of the splitting rollers I2 and 12 respectively. Eachguide roller freely rotating around its axis is carried on a supportinglever 113, which is pivoted about the center 0. The position of theguide lever l8 is controlled by a fluid cylinder H which acts to move apiston rod 56 to shift the associated guide lever about its pivot. Eachguide roller l3. and I3, is mounted so that it may be movable throughthe path of the tape 10 in order to tension the tape ei her between therear feed rollers Ill and 40' and the associated cutter 12 or theforward feed rollers 16' and 42 and the associated cutting roller 12 Theapparatus also includes a fine adjustment mechanism l to provide forminor variations of position of the lever 18, and to avoid any play inits mounting. Yarn engaging bars 15, are provided in the same manner asin the other term bodiment, and they are operated by fluid cylinder 1'.A single motor A is employed which drives a pulley 30 and a belt 82 torotate input shafts of clutches D and E to drive associated shafts 44and 46' of rollers 12, and 12 The motor A is advantageously a variablespeed motor.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the tape- 10 is setfor the first time, the tape or yarn engaging bars 15 and 15 are movedbackwardly in a retracted position shown-in solid lines in FIG. 5. Thearms I8 and 18 are held in a position indicated by the axis lines O-Yand O-X, respectively, indicated in FIG. 4. In this condition, all ofthe tapes II) which exit through the nip of the rollers 11 and 40' aredirected through substantially a straight line to the nips of therollers 42' and 16'. The arm 18, is then rotated to the position O-Xwhile the arm 18 which is not shown in FIG. 5 but only shown in FIG. 4,is maintained in its initial position unchanged. Under this arrangement,a contact of the yarn with the cutter I2, will be attained and thesplitting operation will be carried out by this cutter.

When a breakage or entanglement of the tape or yarn occurs during theoperation, the broken tape is cut off in the proximity of the dischargeside of the nip rollers 11' and 40' and then the supply to the splittingcutter I2, is cut off. Thereafter, the splitting operation istransferred to the splitting roller 12 by shifting the arm 18, back tothe position O-Y and by shifting the arm 18 to the position O-Y at whichthe tape will be guided around the cutting roller I2 When this is done,the splitting roller 12, can be fully examined and any broken partsremoved or replaced.

In those instances where it is desired to effect a double splittingoperation, both of the arms 18, and I8 may be oriented in an upwardposition in which they guide the tape around their associated splittingrollers I2 and 12 In accordance with the preferred'method ofthe-invention for splitting yarns using at least two splitting rollers,the yarn is fed between the two feed roller groups which are 'arrangedoneach side of the splitting rollers in a manner such that the yarn istensioned. Thereafter, the yarn is deflected by a guide roller intoassociation with at least one of the splitting rollers. However, in acase where double splitting is desired, the yarn may be deflected intoassociation with both splitting rollers at one time. If the yarn becomesentangled with one of the splitting rollers or if it breaks, then theother splitting roller may be im mediately employed by "deflectingthelyarn into association with it. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, it isnecessary to shift the position of the splitting rollers so that theidle roller becomes effective. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4and 5, shifting from one splitting roller to the other may be effectedby merely displacing the associated guide roller to cause the yarn tobear against whicheverroller is desired for operation.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in'detail to illustrate the application of the inventiveprinciples, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

We claim:

1. A method for splitting yarns using at least two alternatelyactingsplitting rollers, and using two sets of feed rollers arranged oneach side of the splitting rollers, comprising feeding the yarn betweenthe two feed roller groups arranged on each side of the splittingrollers in a manner to tension the yarn between the feed roller groups,and shifting the yarn so that it bears around one of the splittingrollers in operative contact therewith.

2. A method according to claim lers are mounted on arotatable-supporting arm comprising rotating the arm so that one of thesplitting rollers is initially,

I, wherein the splitting rolonly a respective one of said splittingrollers to be operatively associated therewith for the splittingoperation, and a rotatable arm adjacent the feedpath, said arm carryinga splitting roller at each end, said arm being rotatable to position aselected one of said splitting rollers in engagement with the yarnwidths.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said shifting means comprisesa guide roller, and means mounting said guide roller to move said guideroller through a path intercepting the yarn widths to cause the yarns tobear around a portion of the periphery of an adjacent splitting roller.

9. A device according to claim 5, including laterally spaced fixedjournal means mounting said splitting rollers at spaced wherein the yarnis shifted on the side adjacent one of the splitting rollers to engageit when that splitting roller is to be employed to split the yarn.

4. A method for splitting yarns using at least two splitting rollers,and using two sets of feed rollers arranged'on each side.

of the splitting rollers, comprising'feedingthe yarn, between the twofeed roller groups arranged on each side of the splitting rollers in amanner to tension the yarn between the feed roller groups, shifting theyarn so that itbears around at least one of the splitting rollers inoperative contact therewith, and wherein any broken yarn is collectedbelow the associated splitting roller and is'retained between the feedroller groups and then all ofthe yarns are deflected into associationwith the other ofthe splitting rollers. I

5. A device for splitting yarns comprising means for feeding a pluralityof laterally spaced yarn widths'through a feedpath, a plurality ofsplitting rollers of a length equivalent to the combined widths of theyarn being fed arranged in alinement with the yarns in the feedpath, anddeflecting means for deflecting said yarns to cause'them to engagearound a respective one of said splitting rollers to be operativelyassociated therewith for the splitting operation.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said feeding means comprisesmeans-for feeding said yarn widths under tension. i t

7. A device for splitting yarns comprising means for feeding a pluralityof laterally spaced yarn widths through a feedpath, a plurality ofspaced apart splitting rollers of a length equivalent to the combinedwidths of the yarn being fed arranged in alinement with the yarn in thefeedpath, shifting means for shifting said yarns to cause them toengagearound locations along the feedpath, said deflecting means comprisin'gmeans movable through the feedpath to deflect the yarn widths at alocation adjacent each one of said splitting rollers.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said deflecting meanscomprises a guide roller arranged on the outer side of eachof saidsplitting'rollers, and lever means mounting said guide rollers to shiftsaid guide rollers through the feedpath of the yarn widths and to causethe yarn widths to bear under tension around a portion of the peripheryof the adjacent splitting roller.

11. A device for splitting yarns comprising means for feeding aplurality of laterally spaced yarn widths through a feedpath, aplurality of spaced apart splitting rollers of a length equivalent tothe combined widths of the yarn being fed arranged in alinement with theyarns in the feedpath, shifting means for shifting said yarns to causethem to engage around only a respective one of said splitting rollers tobe operatively associated therewith for the splitting operation, asupporting bar movable at right angles to the feedpath, and means fordis placing said bar to position the bar directly below the yarnwidthsbeing fed so as to support the tapes in the event that they breakoff.

121A device according to claim 5, wherein said deflecting meanscomprises a rotatable guide roller disposed on the opposite side of saidyarn widths from said splitting rollers, and lever means carrying saidguide roller being deflectable to move said guide roller through a pathintercepting the yarn widths to deflect them over a portion of thesurface ofat least one of said splitting rollers.

13. A device for splitting yarns comprising means for feeding aplurality of laterally spaced yarn widths through a feedpath, aplurality of spaced apart splitting rollers of a length equivalent tothe combined widths of the yarn being fed arranged in alinement with theyarns in the feedpath, shifting means for shifting said yarns to causethem to engage around only a respective one of said'splitting rollers tobe operatively associated therewith for the splitting operation, saidshifting means comprising a rotatable guide roller disposed on theopposite side of said yarn widths from said splitting rollers, and levermeans carrying said guide roller being deflectable to move said guideroller through the path intersecting the yarn widths to deflect themover a portion of the surface of at least one of said splitting rollers,a rotatable arm, said splitting rollers being carried at respective endsof said arm, a driving motor for said splitting rollers, and gear andclutch means connected between said motor and said splitting rollers torotate said rollers at selected speeds.

14. A device according to claim 12, including a gear shaft supportingsaid arm for rotation therewith, and worm and gear means connected tosaid gear shaft to rotate said gear shaft for selectively positioningsaid arm.

15. A device for splitting yarns comprising means for feed ing at leastone yarn width through a feedpath, a plurality of spaced apart splittingrollers arranged in alinement with the yarn in the feedpath, andshifting means for shifting said yarn to cause it to engage around onlyone of said splitting rollers for operative association therewith forsplitting the yarn.

